A Rhetorical Conversation

A Rhetorical Conversation is a scholarly exploration of Jewish language and its influence on modern expression. This volume of literary criticism examines how the distinctive ways Jews speak and write draw from a rich body of Yiddish literature. By analyzing the connection between traditional texts and contemporary popular culture, the author explains the origins of Jewish discourse and the linguistic patterns found in the works of Saul Bellow and Henry Roth.

This Jewish studies text utilizes case studies to investigate the nature of Yiddish communication, including the cultural tendency to answer a question with a question. Categorized within foreign language study and social science, A Rhetorical Conversation details the specific methods of arguing, thinking, and writing developed through Yiddish culture. The book provides a comprehensive look at how these rhetorical styles evolved through prolonged contact with sacred and secular texts.